Diwali Federal Holiday Bill Returns With 19 Co-Sponsors

US lawmakers have renewed efforts to make Diwali a federal holiday, reintroducing legislation that would formally recognise the festival across the United States. Led by Congresswoman Grace Meng, the proposed Diwali Day Act has received support from 19 co-sponsors, including Indian-origin members of Congress Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar and Ro Khanna.

The renewed legislative push comes three years after Meng first introduced the proposal in 2023. If approved by Congress and signed into law by the US President, Diwali would be added to the country’s list of federally recognised holidays, giving federal employees a day off and acknowledging the festival’s cultural and religious significance to millions of Americans.

Meng, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said the legislation is intended to improve awareness of Diwali and recognise the traditions of communities that celebrate the festival. Supporters also argue that federal recognition would send a message of inclusion to Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities.

Diwali Day Act: Key Details

• Congresswoman Grace Meng has reintroduced the Diwali Day Act in the US House of Representatives.
• The proposal has 19 co-sponsors, including Indian-origin lawmakers from both major political backgrounds.
• The bill seeks to add Diwali to the list of federal holidays under Section 6103(a) of Title 5 of the US Code.
• If enacted, Diwali would become the 12th federally recognised holiday in the United States.
• The legislation was previously introduced in May 2023 but did not advance beyond the House committee stage.

Grace Meng Says Diwali Recognition Would Promote Inclusion

Grace Meng said the proposed legislation would help Americans better understand the importance of Diwali and the communities that observe it. She described the bill as part of a broader effort to build a more inclusive country that recognises the cultural traditions of its population.

In her statement, Meng said the Diwali Day Act would educate Americans about the significance of the festival. She also said she would continue working towards a nation that honours the diverse cultural traditions of its people.

The congresswoman highlighted the festival’s symbolic meaning, describing Diwali as a celebration of the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. She argued that recognising the festival at the federal level would be particularly meaningful at a time when concerns about anti-Hindu and anti-South Asian hostility have grown.

Meng said federal recognition would communicate that Hindus, along with Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, are valued members of American society. The proposal therefore goes beyond adding another holiday to the federal calendar and seeks to recognise the cultural contributions and presence of communities that celebrate Diwali.

Supporters believe that official recognition could also increase public understanding of the festival. Although Diwali is celebrated by millions of people around the world, awareness of its traditions and meaning varies across communities in the United States.

19 Co-Sponsors Back the Renewed Diwali Holiday Proposal

The latest version of the Diwali Day Act has the support of 19 co-sponsors. Among them are several Indian-origin lawmakers who have supported greater recognition of South Asian communities and their cultural traditions in the United States.

The lawmakers named among the supporters include Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar and Ro Khanna. Their involvement gives the proposal support from members of Congress with connections to the communities that celebrate the festival.

Co-sponsorship is an important part of the legislative process because it demonstrates that a proposal has support beyond its primary sponsor. However, the number of lawmakers backing a bill does not guarantee that it will pass. The legislation must still move through the relevant congressional procedures before it can become law.

The renewed support also builds on the earlier effort to recognise Diwali at the federal level. The original 2023 proposal began with 13 co-sponsors, and congressional tracking information from November 2024 listed 16 supporters.

The increase to 19 co-sponsors in the reintroduced version indicates that the proposal has attracted additional congressional backing. Its future, however, will depend on whether lawmakers advance it through the House and Senate.

What Happened When the Diwali Day Act Was First Introduced in 2023?

This is not the first attempt by Grace Meng to establish Diwali as a federal holiday. She introduced an earlier version of the Diwali Day Act on May 15, 2023, during the 118th Congress, when Joe Biden was President of the United States.

The original legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives with 13 co-sponsors. These included Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera, as well as Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Andy Kim, Josh Gottheimer and Brian Fitzpatrick.

After its introduction, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on the same day. The committee referral marked the beginning of the legislative review process, but the proposal did not progress further.

The bill remained at the committee stage and was never brought to a vote in the full House of Representatives. As a result, the original proposal did not become law and Diwali was not added to the federal holiday calendar.

Support for the legislation grew after its introduction. A congressional tracking document from November 2024 listed 16 co-sponsors, compared with the original 13. The reintroduction with 19 co-sponsors represents another effort to build support for federal recognition.

The earlier bill’s lack of progress also illustrates the challenge of turning symbolic recognition into federal legislation. Even when a proposal receives support from multiple lawmakers, it must move through committee consideration and the wider congressional process before it can take effect.

What Changes if Diwali Becomes a Federal Holiday in the US?

The Diwali Day Act seeks to amend Section 6103(a) of Title 5 of the United States Code. This provision contains the list of federal holidays recognised under US law.

If Congress passes the bill and the President signs it, Diwali Day would be formally included in that list. The change would establish the festival as a federal holiday and make it part of the country’s official holiday calendar.

One of the most direct effects would be a day off for federal employees. Government offices that follow the federal holiday calendar would observe the newly designated holiday under the applicable rules.

The proposal would also provide formal national recognition to a festival celebrated by Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities. Its supporters say this would acknowledge the place of these communities in American society and make their cultural traditions more visible.

However, federal recognition does not automatically mean that every private company, school, state government or local authority must close. Private employers and institutions generally have their own holiday policies, while state and local observances can differ from the federal calendar.

For families and communities that celebrate Diwali, the designation could nevertheless make it easier for some people to participate in religious and cultural activities without having to arrange separate leave from federal employment.

Would Diwali Become the 12th Federal Holiday in the United States?

Under the proposal, Diwali would become the 12th federally recognised holiday in the United States. The bill would add the festival to the existing list established under federal law.

Federal holidays are official observances recognised by the US government. They generally affect the operating schedules of federal agencies and the availability of services, although the impact on private businesses and other institutions depends on their individual policies.

Adding Diwali would represent a significant change in the federal holiday calendar because it would give official recognition to a festival observed by several religious communities. It would also reflect the growing cultural diversity of the American population.

Nevertheless, the proposed designation remains conditional. Diwali will not become a federal holiday simply because the bill has been reintroduced or has attracted co-sponsors. The legislation must complete the required legislative process and receive presidential approval.

Anti-Hindu and Anti-South Asian Hate Adds Urgency to the Proposal

The renewed push for Diwali’s federal recognition is also linked to concerns about hostility towards Hindu and South Asian communities in the United States.

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus has pointed to incidents involving vandalism at Hindu places of worship, an attempted mass shooting during Navratri festivities at a Hindu temple in Illinois and the disruption of a Diwali celebration in Washington state.

CAPAC has argued that such incidents should be taken seriously and investigated by federal authorities. The caucus has connected the proposed holiday recognition with the broader need to acknowledge and protect communities facing religious and cultural hostility.

For supporters of the Diwali Day Act, federal recognition would carry symbolic importance beyond the practical benefit of a holiday. It would publicly acknowledge the place of Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities in American life.

However, adding Diwali to the federal calendar would not by itself address discrimination, vandalism or threats against religious institutions. Those issues require appropriate law enforcement responses, community engagement and broader efforts to protect religious freedom.

The legislation’s supporters view official recognition as one way to communicate that religious and cultural diversity is part of the country’s national identity.

Why Diwali Matters to Indian-American and Other Communities

Diwali, often called the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities, as well as some Buddhist communities. Its traditions and religious significance vary across communities and regions, but the festival is widely associated with themes of light, hope, knowledge and the triumph of good over evil.

For Indian-American families, Diwali is an important occasion for religious observances, family gatherings and cultural celebrations. Events may include lighting lamps, decorating homes, exchanging gifts, preparing traditional food and attending community gatherings.

The festival has also become a visible part of public cultural life in the United States. Celebrations take place in different cities and bring together people from Indian-American communities and others interested in participating in the festivities.

Federal recognition could increase the festival’s visibility and give it a more prominent place in the country’s official calendar. It would also acknowledge that the traditions of communities with roots in South Asia form part of the wider American cultural landscape.

The proposed legislation does not seek to change how individual communities celebrate Diwali. Instead, it would establish a national-level recognition of the day through federal law.

Grace Meng Has Also Pushed for Lunar New Year Recognition

The Diwali Day Act is part of Grace Meng’s wider legislative efforts to recognise cultural celebrations observed by Asian-American communities.

Meng has also introduced the Lunar New Year Day Act, which seeks federal recognition for Lunar New Year. The initiative reflects a similar approach of using federal legislation to acknowledge important cultural traditions celebrated by communities across the United States.

Both proposals raise questions about how the federal holiday calendar can reflect the country’s cultural diversity. Supporters argue that official recognition can help increase awareness of traditions that are important to millions of Americans.

At the same time, each proposal must move through the legislative process independently. The introduction of a bill does not guarantee its passage, and congressional support must translate into action before a proposed holiday can become part of federal law.

What Happens Next to the Diwali Day Act?

The reintroduction of the Diwali Day Act gives the proposal another opportunity to advance in the US Congress. Its 19 co-sponsors provide a base of support, but the legislation still needs to progress through the required stages before Diwali can receive federal holiday status.

Lawmakers will need to consider the proposal through the congressional process, including committee review and action by the House and Senate. If both chambers approve the legislation, it must then be signed by the President to become law.

The earlier version introduced in 2023 did not move beyond the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. Whether the latest version makes further progress will depend on congressional priorities, committee action and support among lawmakers.

For now, the reintroduced bill represents a renewed effort to recognise Diwali as an official federal holiday. Its supporters are presenting the proposal as both a cultural recognition measure and a statement of inclusion for communities that celebrate the festival.

Diwali Federal Holiday Proposal: A Renewed Push for National Recognition

The reintroduction of the Diwali Day Act marks another attempt to give the Festival of Lights formal recognition in the United States. Led by Grace Meng and backed by 19 co-sponsors, including Indian-origin members of Congress, the proposal seeks to add Diwali to the federal holiday calendar.

If enacted, the legislation would make Diwali the 12th federally recognised holiday and provide federal employees with a designated day off. It would also recognise the cultural and religious significance of the festival for Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist communities.

However, the proposal remains at the legislative stage. Its earlier version failed to advance beyond committee consideration in 2023, and the reintroduced bill must still secure approval from Congress and the President.

The renewed effort nevertheless places the question of Diwali’s national recognition back before US lawmakers. Whether it becomes law will depend on the next stages of the congressional process.